RIVM's activities straddle the boundary between science and policy. RIVM enjoys a very strong international position in both areas, and within the broad interface between them. Much of RIVM's international work is undertaken in the context of the European Union. It also works for and through several specialist UN United Nations  (United Nations ) organisations, including WHO and the OECD, and is involved in many bilateral partnerships.

The European Union

European Commission:

Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection

  • Membership of expert committees
  • Membership of surveillance networks
  • Participation in joint reference laboratories
  • Projects to advance EU European Union (European Union) Public Health programme

Directorate-General for the Environment

  • Membership of expert committees
  • National implementation of European legislation

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

  • Projects within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Development

European agencies:

  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
  • European Environment Agency (EEA)
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • European Medicines Agency (EMA)
  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
  • Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC)
  • Others

Council of Europe

  • European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM)

United Nations

  • World Health Organization
  • International Health Regulations
  • The Netherlands–WHO cooperative alliance
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • Miscellaneous

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

  • Reports on health and health care

Bilateral cooperation

  • RIVM contributes to the formal cooperative alliances of the Dutch government
  • Twinning

Membership of international (professional) organizations

  • IANPHI 
  • EUPHA 
  • EHMA